How to Restore a Toolbar in Explorer

By Geoff Whiting

To fit in with the design of Windows 8.1, Internet Explorer 11 now hides the menu button and toolbar by default. You can add the standard toolbar as well as others directly from Internet Explorer itself; no outside software is needed. If you download browser extensions that add new toolbars, they can be managed through the same menu as Internet Explorer's standard toolbars.

Step 1

Open Internet Explorer. It does not matter what tabs or windows you have open, these steps will work regardless of the Web page displayed.

Step 2

Right-click on the title bar in an empty space and hover over the pop-up menu. The title bar is the portion of your browser window located above URLs; you'll find the minimize, maximize and close buttons at the far right of the title bar.

Step 3

Click on the toolbar you wish to display located in the pop-up menu. For example, clicking "Menu Bar" will enable the standard menu bar and give you Microsoft's "File" and "Edit" options among others.

Step 4

Click any additional toolbars you want displayed. If you click on a toolbar a second time, it will hide the toolbar. Any third-party toolbars you download can also be displayed or hidden through this menu.

Tips & Warnings

Third-party toolbars can be hidden from this menu but not removed. Use the "Manage Add-ons" option to see all of the extra toolbars you've downloaded and remove any unwanted items.